Rabbi Michael Levy's bloghttps://www.thejewishweek.com/blog/rabbi-michael-levy
Connecting the World to Jewish News, Culture, and Opinion
enBeyond The “Triple Crown” — A Prize For Which We All Can Competehttps://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/beyond-triple-crown-prize-which-we-all-can-compete
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Competition and the possibility of victory can awaken the American &ldquo;can-do&rdquo; spirit in us all. We rightly support initiatives for people with disabilities to compete in athletic events.&nbsp; Everyone should have the opportunity to strive (and even struggle) to achieve his or her &ldquo;personal best.&rdquo;</p>
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<strong>The Sports Dilemma</strong></p>
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The parents of some children with disabilities face a dilemma every summer. If they send their children an integrated camp, the children may actually be segregated when it comes to the portion of each day devoted to athletic activity.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/beyond-triple-crown-prize-which-we-all-can-compete" target="_blank">read more</a></p>https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/beyond-triple-crown-prize-which-we-all-can-compete#commentsThe New NormalathleticsCampsInclusionmitzvotspecial needsThu, 16 Jul 2015 14:33:00 +0000Rabbi Michael Levy49425 at https://www.thejewishweek.comNot So Special: My Bar Mitzvah Year, 50 Years Laterhttps://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/be-or-not-bespecial
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In 1965, the phrase &ldquo;special needs&rdquo; hadn&rsquo;t yet been coined. I felt just like the other 15 students &mdash; excited about our Bar Mitzvahs, but bored by the four hours of preparation each week.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/be-or-not-bespecial" target="_blank">read more</a></p>https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/be-or-not-bespecial#commentsThe New Normalarts disability inclusion queerBar Mitzvahblindnessspecial needsTue, 26 May 2015 10:53:00 +0000Rabbi Michael Levy48159 at https://www.thejewishweek.comThe Broken Sidewalk: A Mother's Day Tributehttps://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/broken-sidewalk-mothers-day-tribute
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Even when I was only 5, my mother, Etta Levy, encouraged me, her blind son, to explore the area near our house.&nbsp; She didn&rsquo;t allow me to cross the street, but there was still plenty to discover.</p>
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The tree roots, searching for water underground, had cracked the sidewalk in many places.&nbsp; The slight downward slope followed by the large upward bump informed me that I was in front of our basement window.&nbsp; At the eastern edge of the property, I felt the pavement change to a different texture of concrete.&nbsp; Farther along, the recently repaved sidewalk by Anthony&rsquo;s house was miraculously smooth.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/broken-sidewalk-mothers-day-tribute" target="_blank">read more</a></p>https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/broken-sidewalk-mothers-day-tribute#commentsThe New NormalblindnessMother's DayparentingThu, 07 May 2015 11:24:00 +0000Rabbi Michael Levy47875 at https://www.thejewishweek.comAll Are Welcome At The Sederhttps://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/all-are-welcome-seder
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In your mind&rsquo;s eye, look around at those with whom you have celebrated past Seders.&nbsp;</p>
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A contemplative girl is full of questions: How could a respected family in Egypt so quickly become an enslaved nation? Why was Pharaoh so stubborn?</p>
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There&rsquo;s the &quot;Squirmer.&quot; If he doesn&rsquo;t declare outright that he&rsquo;d rather not be at the Seder, his body language clearly broadcasts the message.</p>
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Seated next to each other are two frustrated guests. One is always losing his place in the Haggadah, and the other&rsquo;s eyes often stray to the kitchen.</p>
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During its recounting of the Exodus from Egypt, the Haggadah &ldquo;pauses&rdquo; to consider Seder participants resembling those described above. They are portrayed as four sons: one wise, one wicked, one simple and one who doesn&rsquo;t know how to ask.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/all-are-welcome-seder" target="_blank">read more</a></p>https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/all-are-welcome-seder#commentsThe New NormalDisabilityInclusionPassoversederspecial needsThu, 02 Apr 2015 11:53:00 +0000Rabbi Michael Levy47236 at https://www.thejewishweek.comJewish Disability Awareness Month: How To Keep The Message Alivehttps://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/jewish-disability-awareness-month-how-keep-message-alive
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Last month, many people worked tirelessly to make congregations and communities across our country aware of the capabilities and aspirations of Jews with disabilities. What can we do to transform the message of Jewish disability awareness into meaningful changes that bring us closer to full integration into Jewish life the other eleven months of the year?</p>
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Dramatic and widely publicized events have their place, but how long will their message remain effective? The experiences of the Biblical stories of Moses and Elijah remind us that ongoing &ldquo;small quiet voices&rdquo; must be heard after the fanfare. Let&rsquo;s look at some &ldquo;awareness initiatives&rdquo; from early Jewish history that can help to guide us.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/jewish-disability-awareness-month-how-keep-message-alive" target="_blank">read more</a></p>https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/jewish-disability-awareness-month-how-keep-message-alive#commentsThe New NormalInclusionJDAMspecial needsTorahFri, 20 Mar 2015 15:24:00 +0000Rabbi Michael Levy46946 at https://www.thejewishweek.comThe Exodus from Egypt: A Model for Future Liberationshttps://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/exodus-egypt-model-future-liberations
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Each Shabbat from January 10 through January 31, 2015, the Torah portions&nbsp;recited in synagogues recount how God liberated the Israelites from Egyptian&nbsp;slavery. For those who are oppressed, Jews and non-Jews alike, the Exodus&nbsp;recalls the determination of slaves to be free and the compassion of God,&nbsp;the Liberator.</p>
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<strong>Belief-The First Step Towards Liberation</strong></p>
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Before the Exodus, no slave had ever escaped from Egypt. Many Israelite slaves, even as redemption neared, succumbed to despair. An important first step towards liberation is realizing that God is not limited by what we humans may consider &quot;the impossible.&quot;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/exodus-egypt-model-future-liberations" target="_blank">read more</a></p>https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/exodus-egypt-model-future-liberations#commentsThe New NormaldisabilitiesExodusInclusionliberationSat, 24 Jan 2015 22:26:00 +0000Rabbi Michael Levy45790 at https://www.thejewishweek.comHow Children View Disability: A Refreshing Perspectivehttps://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/how-children-view-disability-refreshing-perspective
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While I waited to donate blood at my local firehouse, I was introduced to a friend&rsquo;s five-year-old daughter.&nbsp; I covered my face and said &ldquo;I&rsquo;m shy.&rdquo;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/how-children-view-disability-refreshing-perspective" target="_blank">read more</a></p>https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/how-children-view-disability-refreshing-perspective#commentsThe New NormalblindnesschildrenDisabilityInclusionWed, 24 Dec 2014 15:48:00 +0000Rabbi Michael Levy45326 at https://www.thejewishweek.comEmpowering the Newly Disabled: Inspired by Hagar's Revelation https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/empowering-newly-disabled-inspired-hagars-revelation
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This week&#39;s Torah portion &ldquo;Vayera&quot; (And He (God) Appeared), relates a traumatic episode in the life of Hagar, Sarah&rsquo;s servant and the woman who bore Ishmael to Sarah&rsquo;s husband, Abraham. Hagar behaved haughtily to Sarah, and Ishmael&rsquo;s behavior verged on violence.&nbsp;</p>
<p> <p><a href="https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/empowering-newly-disabled-inspired-hagars-revelation" target="_blank">read more</a></p>https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/empowering-newly-disabled-inspired-hagars-revelation#commentsThe New NormalInclusionspecial needsWed, 05 Nov 2014 12:24:00 +0000Rabbi Michael Levy44385 at https://www.thejewishweek.comMoses' Greatest Victoryhttps://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/moses-greatest-victory
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On Thursday night and Friday we will celebrate Simchat Torah. Amid singing and dancing, we complete the reading of the Torah and, without pause, begin the Torah reading cycle again. I have often marveled that, like a massive oak growing from a small seed, our religion has developed from a portable scroll.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/moses-greatest-victory" target="_blank">read more</a></p>https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/moses-greatest-victory#commentsThe New NormalInclusionMosessimchat torahTorahWed, 08 Oct 2014 11:24:00 +0000Rabbi Michael Levy43836 at https://www.thejewishweek.comThat All May Participate: Isaiah's Message Of Accomodationhttps://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/all-may-participate-isaiahs-message-accomodation
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The Yom Kippur Haftarah portion describes God&rsquo;s reaction to rituals that are practiced without regard to people who need help and deserve respect.</p>
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&ldquo;To be sure, they (worshippers) seek Me daily,<br />
Eager to learn My ways&hellip;.<br />
They ask Me for the right way,<br />
They are eager for the nearness of God:<br />
&quot;Why, when we fasted, did You not see?<br />
When we starved our bodies, did You pay no heed?&quot;&hellip;.</p>
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Because on your fast day, You see to your business, &amp; oppress all your laborers! ...<br />
Such a fast (will not) make your voice heard on high.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/all-may-participate-isaiahs-message-accomodation" target="_blank">read more</a></p>https://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/all-may-participate-isaiahs-message-accomodation#commentsThe New NormaldisabilitiesInclusionYom KippurTue, 16 Sep 2014 11:40:00 +0000Rabbi Michael Levy43369 at https://www.thejewishweek.com